Tokyo, the host of Olympic Games 2020, on Wednesday recorded 3,177 new COVID-19 cases, the highest ever since the sports tournament began in the Japanese capital, news agency AP reported.

The Wednesday tally exceeded the earlier record of 2,848 COVID cases that were reported the previous day and bring the total for the Japanese capital to 206,745 since the pandemic began early last year.

Since July 12, Tokyo has been under the fourth state of emergency ahead of the Olympics, which began last Friday despite experts warning against the conduction of games and widespread opposition by the general population of the country.

According to experts, this surge in virus cases in Japan is triggered by the new more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus. A panel of global virologists recently called Delta the “fittest and fastest” variant there is and noted that convincing evidence suggests that this variant can infect fully vaccinated people as well.

Also Read: US health body reverses course, urges vaccinated Americans to wear masks indoors

“The biggest risk to the world at the moment is simply Delta. It is the fittest and fastest variant yet,” microbiologist Sharon Peacock, who runs Britain’s efforts to sequence the genomes of coronavirus variants told Reuters.

The experts also added that there are significant chances that these carriers may easily spread the virus to other people. 

The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, seems to target the lungs, damaging the organ and causing oxygen levels to drop drastically. This is why oxygen cylinders were in huge demand across the world during these waves.  

This variant has now mutated itself into another called the Delta Plus variant. Scientists across the world, however, are still divided on whether or not Delta plus is more contagious and dangerous. It is said to be a concerning trend in COVID-19 development.

Also Read: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Key arrangements amid COVID-19 pandemic

Tokyo Olympics, which was earlier delayed by a year in view of the COVID-19 situation in the world, kicked off on July 23 with stringent virus-related restrictions and protocols. The tournament will go on till August 3. 

The unprecedented Summer Games 2021 is being held with no spectators to avoid the mass spread of the virus.